I remember watching television as a teenager; I was 15 at the time and a commercial came across the screen advertising a product that promised greater alertness, cognition, and increased energy without the use of stimulants! Naturally, I needed this and it was available at my local GNC store. I had to get some STAT! This incredible supplement was called Vitamin B-12. My mother had to purchase it for me because I was too young to buy it for myself. She was in full support of anything that would help get me up and out of bed early in the morning for school. I was on my way to becoming SUPERMAN!
Fast forward to today, Vitamin B-12 didn’t give me super strength nor did it prevent me from being late to school but it did spark my interest in nutrition and natural health which became my focus from that day forward. I began a personal quest to learn all I could about nutrition and the importance of micronutrients, which is why, 27 years later, I am still touting the benefits of Vitamin B-12.
You are a Statistic of One!
How we view and accept our modern model of medical practice has always concerned me. For example, when you go to the doctor for lab work to evaluate certain pathology, you will get a lab value that is considered either within normal limits or not. This method works most of the time but not always. There have been concerns brought forth by functional medicine practitioners who consider many of the lab tests outdated or grossly understated when it comes to their correlation to optimal health.
Therefore, many of these physicians will choose only to use these tests to monitor treatment progress or they may opt to use advanced testing methods not yet recognized by mainstream medicine. This approach is treating the patient on an individualized basis and not treating the lab result or simply basing health status on numbers. What is normal for someone else may not be normal for you. I take it a step beyond achieving “normals” and focus on what is “optimal” in order to achieve a better level of health and well-being.
So, what does Vitamin B-12 deficiency look like? Would the symptoms be obvious? Well, not necessarily, which is why I am an advocate for supplementing with this remarkable vitamin. Often times I have met clients who tell me about medications they take for certain issues and I ask them if they feel much improvement from the prescribed drugs. My question is generally met with a less than satisfactory response.
So why continue with the drug? Ah, because the doctor prescribed it and therefore it must be the missing link — I got it! Nope, I don’t think so; you are not deficient in any drug so let us rethink this approach. I am not telling you to stop your medications (that is a conversation to have with your doctor), but let us dive a bit deeper as to some other possibilities. Bear with me, I am a Health Coach and this is why people pay me the big bucks, right?
Deficiencies in Vitamin B-12 can manifest in ways that are oftentimes overlooked by modern medicine.
For example:
A 20-year-old young woman becomes severely depressed without any acute reasoning.
An 80-year-old man who suddenly develops problems with balance and falls, fracturing his hip.
A woman in her 30s complains of constant leg pain and doctors claim, “it is all in her head.”
A woman in her 40s finds herself drinking alcohol on a regular basis in order to cope with day-to-day stress and her doctor labels her an “alcoholic.”
A 77-year-old man with numbness in his feet and legs is diagnosed with incurable diabetic neuropathy.
A senior citizen who is told by doctors that his repeated falls are probably attributed to “old age” and possible “mini-strokes.”
A young woman who is unable to conceive a baby and is told her hormones are “normal.”
An athlete experiences chronic pain and is told that he needs to “slow down” and to find alternate enjoyment.
A man experiences sexual dysfunction and his doctor tells him it is probably age-related and gives him a prescription for “the little blue pill”.
A teenager is experiencing acne breakouts; is told that it is “normal,” and is prescribed harsh antibiotics.
A woman, no matter how much sleep she gets, is always tired and fatigued and is told she probably has CFS or Fibromyalgia and is prescribed medication.
I could go on and on like this, but I think you get the picture. What do all of these cases have in common? They were misdiagnosed and later found to have a deficiency in Vitamin B-12. In all cases, symptoms resolved or became manageable after Vitamin B-12 therapy was implemented.
Did you know that if you are over 40 years of age, you are at an elevated risk of Vitamin B-12 deficiency? In addition, if you are over the age of 60 years, you have up to a 40% chance of having dangerously low Vitamin B-12 levels. This, along with increased stress and inadequate nutritional habits, are a prescription for disaster, if dismissed or overlooked.
Why is Vitamin B-12 So Important?
Vitamins are tiny molecules that are involved in thousands of chemical reactions in the body that build and support your tissues, organs and fuel your body with energy from the foods you eat. They also play a critical role in the cleansing and detoxification of waste from the body. They support the immune system and protect you against infections, help to repair cellular damage, and facilitate the communication between all cells throughout the entire body.
It is vital to be mindful of your nutrition because the body cannot make vitamins all by itself. It relies on the foods ingested in order to get all the nutrients it needs in order to function at its absolute best. Some vitamins are stored (fat-soluble vitamins) and do not have to be replenished daily. Whereas some vitamins are not stored (water-soluble vitamins) and must be replenished each day in order to maintain optimal health. There are 13 essential vitamins needed for the body to function.
Vitamin B-12 stands out for a number of important reasons. It is the only vitamin that contains the trace element cobalt, which is why Vitamin B-12 has the scientific name of cobalamin. Vitamin B-12 is the only vitamin that is not readily derived from plants, nor can it be obtained through sunlight. Therefore, this poses great risks for Vegans and Vegetarians but also for those who are not following a mindful nutritional practice.
Vitamin B-12 can be found in animal-based foods such as poultry, fish, beef, eggs, and dairy. You may also notice that processed foods are often fortified with Vitamin B-12. While it only takes a small amount of B-12 to sustain life, it is a vitamin that is easy to become deficient in, due to factors including stress and absorption complications. This is why supplementation is so popular and why many nutritionists and functional medicine practitioners will advise taking supplements routinely.
In order to receive the benefits of Vitamin B-12, it must make its way from your mouth to your bloodstream, which requires a complex process of events to take place. Any malfunction in any part of this process could cause malabsorption and create a deficiency or have a detrimental effect on the entire system.
This is why I recommend my clients follow a solid nutrition plan with high quality, food-grade supplements, but also to consider Vitamin B-12 injections. That’s right, a shot!
I first began receiving Vitamin B-12 shots when I was in my early 20’s, and have reaped the benefits since. I feel it is my duty to invite others to explore the benefits of this safe and easy therapy. There are many ways in which you can utilize Vitamin B-12 injections. Some choose to take a shot once per week while others may take one every other week. Some even choose a smaller dose given on a daily basis, which many feel is optimal. It is important to choose whichever method resonates with you. Rest assured, you can’t go wrong with any option, as long as you are consistent with your approach.
Another important factor to consider is the type of B-12 you are receiving. It is common to find supplements and foods containing Cyanocobalamin, which is not optimal and I do not recommend this form to my clients. Instead, I suggest the use of the bioactive form of B-12 called Methylcobalamin, which is readily absorbed in the body and able to go to work immediately. This may be found in advanced health supplements and via injections as well, but be sure to inquire that you are receiving the best form of Vitamin B-12 before investing your money.
Where to Get Vitamin B-12 Shots & Supplements?
As mentioned earlier, I am a Health Coach, so I hope you didn’t think I was going to leave you hanging and not tell you how to obtain this brilliant B-Vitamin, did you?
I work with a physician who is a functional medicine practitioner, trained in Orthomolecular Medicine and who has prescribed Vitamin B-12 to patients for well over 35+ years with great success. We have designed user-friendly programs and therapeutic injections that are easily incorporated into your health routine to take your health to the next level.
Visit us at ApexAdvancedHealthSolutions.com and check out “Shots for Health” and learn more about Therapeutic Vitamin Injections. We also have mini convenience clinics locally for those who are close by as well as easy-to-use home programs such as our popular “Vitamin B-12 Revitalization Program.”
For more information or questions, you can reach me at [email protected].
“Go BEYOND Yourself & Be AWESOME Always!”
-Ronnie Robertson II